Newmarket-based Hastings Partnerships, the affinity division of insurance company Hastings Direct, has donated £68,250 to the Pink Ribbon Foundation breast cancer charity.

The money represents a donation from every insurepink-branded car, home or travel insurance policy sold during the first quarter of the year.

Last year, Hastings raised nearly £250,000, enabling the foundation to support 36 breast cancer charities across the UK including grants for eight hospices, Macmillan, World Cancer Research and Marie Curie

With the funding, the foundation supports everything from research and the provision of complementary therapies to family support sessions and a drop-in clinic to support breast cancer chemotherapy patients.

Andy Kirton, director at Hastings Partnerships, said: “Whilst nearly 55,000 women and men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in this country, the survival rate is now 85% and rising.

“As more and more of our customers choose and recommend insurepink, we hope that together we can further support those who are suffering and surviving this disease, whilst helping fund those searching for a cure.”

Jonathan Prince, trustee at the Pink Ribbon Foundation, added: “Ordinary insurepink customers are doing an extraordinary thing helping hundreds of breast cancer sufferers and their families simply by buying motor, household or travel insurance. It is our hope that more and more companies will adopt such an approach to their brands.”